A review by lauravreads
Juliet respira profundo by Gabby Rivera

emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


This is a coming-of-age novel, our main character, Juliet, Leaves the Bronx to Internship with her feminist idol Harlow  Brisbane in Portland. Prior to leaving New York she comes out to her family and was faced with coldness. She anticipates this next chapter in her life to be a time when she feels surrounded by a community where she belongs. 

I read this book via Audiobook. I loved the narrator and there were so many moments where I found myself laughing with Juliet and her line of thought. I feel that Juliet is an incredibly relatable character, especially if you Immigrated to the states at a super young age or are a first generation in the states from Central and South America. 

Juliet represents so many Latnie youths who struggle with their identity and a sense of belonging. Not only does she struggle with her accepting her sexuality, coming from a religious and traditional Puerto Rican home, but she struggles with her identity of being fully Hispanic and not fully American. Her family dynamics were hilarious and realistic.  

I loved how honest Rivera is in this book. Juliet is from a family with a different culture, religious beliefs, and values compared to those in portland. She felt overwhelmed by the difference in culture.  While she felt out of place in New York, Portland is no different.
She finds that she does not fit in the overwhelmingly white community that preaches veganism but overlooks cultures that have always had a plant-based diet. She also discovers how white feminism perpetuates white supremacy by dismissing many of the issues affecting women of color as well as trans women.
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